Thursday, May 17, 2012

Einherjar Fates: Belenus

Einherjar Fates:

Belenus

Sweep,
sweep, sweep. Asaka’s broom went left and right, stroking away the dust and
other imperfections lining the floor of her little house.

Once a slave, she had been released
and given a proper job when it was revealed in her master’s will that she was
to be released and given a job as a servant at the castle of their king should
anything untimely happen to him. All the arrangements had been put in place and
she arrived with the king’s servants’ recommendation.

The girl paused, longing for her own
turmoil to be swept away like what little filth had been allowed to build up in
her home. Months ago, she was the content slave of her lord Belenus. Her
precious, beloved Belenus. She had been bought out of pity once upon a time by
the family’s loyal maid. She has spoke only Han-Laian at the time was scared of
these strange people the maid brought her to, especially the yelling lord of
the house. He bellowed and hollered angrily at the maid before storming out.
Second only to being kidnapped and sold as a slave, it was the most frightening
experience of her life. They had a conversation in a tongue she could not
understand thus she knew not what they intended for her.

Then the kind son of the lord
educated her and he and the maid had both been kind to her. As much as she
missed her old life in Han-Lai, her life in Lassen had been pleasant, free or
no. Then he got married to that horrible woman. It was true that she and
Belenus were in love, but despite the constant accusations to his “wife”,
Belenus had never done anything inappropriate or adulterous with her. That vile
bride of her beloved died cursing Asaka.

By that time, the elder maid had
also passed on, leaving Asaka alone to do the housework, which tore at her
lord’s heart. He desired to buy a second slave to help her, but alas, the
matter was never settled, for the in dark of the night a terrible beast came
for her and attacked. Invoking the name Lady Beliza, it drained her of her
life’s blood and she died. Then she was saved in blinding light and awoke to find
Belenus dead next to her. There was bitter weeping and vain begging for him to
awaken, but for naught. Her beloved lord was gone.

Asaka sighed, continuing sweeping up
the dust and mess into a dustpan and disposing of it. She went about, here and
there, going about various activities to prepare for the evening with almost
robotic routine. She ate her dinner, cleaned up the leftovers and table. Stored
what could be saved, and went to bed. Ever since the night that…thing, attacked
her, she had been afraid to sleep alone and in the dark, but did so uneasily
anyway. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and tried to relax knowing
she had a banquet to help prepare for on the morrow. She fell into a deep,
dreamless, if uneasy sleep and all was darkness for the evening. Not four hours
could have passed before she suddenly received a knocking at her door. Startled
and frightened by the unwelcome visit, her eyes shot upon with haste and she
was to her feet. Neglecting a robe to put on over her nightgown, she reached
for a knife she kept under the mattress and crept slowly towards the door
avoiding the creaky floorboards with precision like a cat. Her apprehension
rose as she neared the door, and whatever courage had given her the strength to
go up to it nearly gave out.

“Asaka? Asaka,” A voice called from
the other side. “Are you in there?”

She could swear she almost
recognized it as her lord’s, but dared not believe. The devils that haunte the
night could be tricky.

She remained silent, and didn’t dare
to speak. She put her hands over her mouth to stifle a cry when the doorknob
turned from side to side as the person at the door tried it, but found it
locked.

“Who’s there?!” she finally yelled,
unable to control herself.

“Tis I. Belenus. Don’t you know your
lord’s voice?”

“Impossible. You are dead. You died.
Be gone, devil, or I’ll scream.”

“Then scream. I am going nowhere.
You always were a cautious, gentle soul.” The voice chuckled.

“Is there anything I can do to prove
it,” the voice on the other side then asked.

“What was the first phrase I
saidfluently to you in your tongue?”

“You begged me to take you home. You
were very afraid of my father, who never said two kinds words to you. You were
afraid he was going to have you killed or resold. I swore I would never let
that happen.”

It was enough proof for Asaka.
Rather than collapsing to her knees in an emotional wreck, she hurriedly
unlocked and tore open the front door. There Belenus stood upon her doorstep.

Before the man knew what was
happening, she lunged and buried her face in his chest. She now broke into sobs
as she felt how real his chest was. The warmth of his very human body.

“How,” she managed to ask between
sobs.

“The Lady Valkyrie chose me, and
now, with Ragnarok come and gone, and I did my part to aid in that battle.”

“Ragnarok…” Asaka asked. “That all encompassing
light…?”

“Yes, Asaka. The world ended for but
a moment. But our Lady Lenneth Valkyrie brought us back from oblivion. Now I
have been given new life. I have returned, Asaka.”

With that, he swept the girl off her
feet and instigated the deepest, purest kiss either had ever partaken on. She
returned his show of love and the two embraced for the longest time.